Southeastern Louisiana University Magazine - Spring 2015

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SOUTHEASTERN

S O U T H E A S T E R N L O U I S I A N A U N I V E R S I T Y M A G A Z I N E

Top DocumentaryHistory students produce award-winning documentary, pg 14

GNARLY BARLEY

A new brewery with Southeastern roots, pg 18

Robotics LabPreparing high school students for STEM careers, pg 28

S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

2 S O U T H E A S T E R N M A G A Z I N E

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITYS P R I N G 2 0 1 5 M A G A Z I N E

Letters: Southeastern Magazine welcomes letters of 300 or fewer words. Letters may be used for publication unless the author states that it is not to be published. Letters may be edited for publication. Send submissions to Editor, Southeastern Magazine, Office of University Advancement, SLU 10293, Hammond, LA 70402 or [email protected].

Printing and distribution for the Southeastern Magazine provided by the Southeastern Foundation – southeasternfoundation.org.

COVER PHOTO:

Alumni Zac & Cari Caramonta’s Gnarly Barley brewery facility in Hammond.

PRESIDENT

Dr. John L. Crain

PROVOST & VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Dr. Tammy Bourg

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE

Sam Domiano

VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

Wendy Lauderdale, CFRE

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

Dr. Marvin Yates

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PUBLIC & GOVERNMENTAL

AFFAIRS

Erin Moore CowserDIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Mike RivaultDIRECTOR, PUBLIC INFORMATION

Rene AbadiePHOTOGRAPHY

Randy BergeronCONTRIBUTORS

Tonya Lowentritt, Kemmler ChappelePhilip Schuessler

Snoezelen-Lekotek room

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table of contents

8 NEW TECHNOLOGY BUILDING

Southeastern will start constructing a state of the art building to house growing degree programs.

11 ACCOUNTING PROGRAM

RANKED NATIONALLY

The Accounting program has ranked in the top 20 nationwide among resident universities.

12 HEALTH COACH PARTNERSHIP

The College of Health Sciences forms a partnership with North Oaks Hospital to have students help coach hospital patients.

14 THE FAILED ROCK CONCERT

Southeastern history students win national awards for their documentary on Louisiana’s failed Woodstock era concert in 1972.

18 GNARLY BARLEY

Two alumni are brewing up a new business here in Hammond.

26 SNOEZELEN – LEKOTEK

LEARNING FACILITIES

Southeastern is home to one of the nation’s few sensory play/learning facilities for children with disabilities.

40 ATHLETICS

AD Jay Artigues reflects on his first 18 months at the helm of Lion Athletics.

46 ENTERGY FUNDS AFTER

SCHOOL PROGRAM

The LION program received a boost with Entergy’s grant to help build and sustain the program for disadvantaged youth.

2628 36


This year marks the 90th anniversary of Southeastern.

There have been so many stories and successes in those

nine decades. We are a catalyst of that success, and we

are a reflection of it as well. Looking back, we know we

have been fulfilling our mission, but looking forward, the

importance of Southeastern has never been greater. Today,

someone who holds a college degree will, on average,

earn $1 million more over their lifetime than someone

who does not. The modern economy rewards an educated

workforce, and employment opportunities continue to

increase for college graduates nationwide.

The well-prepared and productive accountants, nurses,

educators, scientists and entrepreneurs who graduate

from Southeastern “workforce ready” do so with an

education and a college experience second to none.

Those students have depended on us year after year and

continue to do so now. We build success one successful

student at a time, and each story of success matters

because each student matters at Southeastern.

In this issue of the Southeastern Magazine, we share some

stories of our impact. We don’t measure success by a

bottom line profit number; we measure it by what we have

helped others accomplish. Southeastern’s economic and

workforce impact on the region and state is immense. It

also reaches nationwide through our alumni who inhabit

all 50 states. In years past, economic impact studies have

shown that Southeastern produces hundreds of millions

of dollars in positive economic impact for Louisiana each

year. By that measurement alone, we are a vital participant

in the economy of our state and the greater region. But

each story shared on the following pages shows the true

depth and longevity of that contribution beyond dollars

and into lives.

So, as you read this issue, enjoy the stories of businesses

launched, successful alumni and the outreach that

Southeastern accomplishes. This is our story of success

through the actions we foster and outcomes we applaud.

p re s i d e n t’s MESSAGE

Alumni, Friends and Supporters,

John L. CrainPRESIDENT

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OUT&ABOUT

FAVORITE SPOT

ON CAMPUS Greek Village because it is a great place to gather with friends, and you can do anything ranging from playing beach volleyball to finding a quiet place to study.

DREAM JOB

My dream job is to be my own boss by owning a veterinary clinic after I graduate from veterinary school.

WHAT CLASS/PROGRAM/

EVENT/ETC. HAS MADE AN

IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?

My fraternity has made a huge impact on me by allowing me to grow and mature in numerous ways. Through it I have gained valuable leadership skills and have formed close relationships with people that will last beyond my college years. Being a part of Delta Tau Delta has been a priceless experience that has, in many ways, contributed greatly to the enjoyment and skill set that I have received from my college experience.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF

SOUTHEASTERN’S FACULTY? They are great! I have made close relationships with many of my teachers because of the fact that in the Biology Department, professors often instruct multiple courses so I’ve spent multiple semesters with some of them. With that being said, I feel that one professor I really did connect with was my Animal Behavior teacher, Dr. John O’Reilly. He was always willing to answer any questions I could come up with, and we had many other general conversations in addition. I could tell that he genuinely cared about me, along with my fellow classmates, and wanted to be there and help us reach our full potential.

nick nelsonSenior // Integrative Biology

currently involved in

Delta Tau DeltaDelta Omega Alpha pre-

professional SocietyBeta Beta Beta Honor SocietyNational Society of Leadership

and SuccessBiology Undergraduate Society

favorite thing about major?

My favorite thing about being a biology major is the fact that I am challenged by something new every semester. With classes ranging from Organic Chemistry to Cell Biology, there is no such thing as an easy semester, and I have learned to embrace the challenge and use it to motivate me towards my future.

in 12 words or less, what

is great about Southeastern? Southeastern provides incredible opportunity

to grow and shape your future self.


“ A student I will always remember! Proud Former Teacher.” – Penny Comeaux Hulon

FACEBOOK // RESPONSE TO STORY POSTED ON PETER BORAKS

“Just entered Texas with a car full of

GREEN AND GOLD FANATICS!” – Russell Bittola

COMMENT ON POST BEFORE 11/29 PLAYOFF GAME

“I had a great time at SLU in the 1980’s.”

– Robert McNamara

“ That’s awesome!” – Kaleb Muse // COMMENTING ON A PHOTO POSTED OF HIM TO FACEBOOK PAGE

“ DECEMBER 11, 2008. I will never forget this day! Go Lions!”

– Michelle Folse FACEBOOK // ON “HAPPY HOLIDAYS” POST OF FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE UNDER SNOW

SOCIAL MEDIA

POSTINGS & COMMENTS FROM YOU

4 December 2014

28

25 November 2014

68

15 September 2014

34

@taylorknox “It’s hard to believe that I’m here right now with this class ring on

my finger. I’m very blessed to be where I am today, and it is all because of God, my family, my friends, and the great University that is Southeastern. #lionup #southeastern”

@cuevas12

“So blessed to have gotten into such a great school! I can’t wait for the next 4

years of my life! #lionup #selu ”

@d_chappelle “Wow. I remember participating in those when I worked with Office

Depot in Hammond. Glad to see SLU is still doing them.”

(on @oursoutheasern photo of job fair)

FO

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“Congratulations Joe!!” - Denise Holland Lee

ATHLETICS FACEBOOK // ON JOE GRAVES ACADEMIC ALL-STAR NAMING

“My daughter, who is an SLU Orientation Leader,

loved her new spirit jersey!”

– Jodi Delhommer Durante

ON ALUMNI FACEBOOK PAGE

“When did this become a tradition? I’ve been saying one of those bricks belongs to me for years.

Many of the wonderful things that are there now, including a football team, is because of our

dedication to seeing it happen! I’m getting a brick. #SGA1998-2002”

– Rozelyn Parker // ‘BUY A BRICK’ POST ON FB

“Need a love button!!” -Mindy Frierson Coogan

REGARDING FOUNDATION FACEBOOK POST ON JOHN PHILIP TEMPLET MEMORIAL

“I love to see them all together!”

– Jan Tedder Labbe’ SLU GREEK LIFE FACEBOOK

“ A GREAT PLACE TO FIND YOURSELF, ENJOY LIFE, AND PREPARE FOR SUCCESS.... Big enough

to offer superb resources, and small enough to not feel ‘lost’! Caring, knowledgeable professors with

real world experience. Close enough to New Orleans and Baton Rouge for quick get-aways. Hammond and

surrounding areas offer ‘just enough’, as well.”-Don Lloyd // INDEPENDENT MARKETING CONTRACTOR

“GREAT EXPERIENCE [THAT] MADE A

DIFFERENCE FOR ME.Great staff and teachers who made a difference.”

-Rocky Rocquin

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

“Husband and I are both SLU Alum – just

moved back... [We’re] looking forward to

bringing the kids to some sporting events

there. There was no football team when

we graduated!”

-Kimberly LipariCO-FOUNDER OF WP VALET

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON

L INKED IN

LINKEDIN


NEWS in LEARNING

“We plan to use citizen scientists – hobbyists and Goodeidae enthusiasts – to help provide us with larval specimens of these fish with known pedigrees for our study,” Piller said. “Many of these collaborating members and their employers, such as zoos and aquariums, will be able to develop public exhibits at their facilities that highlight the synergistic activities of scientists and hobbyists on the project.”

Piller said the additional specimens will also be added to Southeastern’s Vertebrate Museum, which currently contains a fish collection of more than 80,000 specimens.

COLLEGE OF SCIENCES EARNS NSF

FISH GRANTA specialist in the classification of several species of fish at Southeastern Louisiana University has been awarded a grant of $607,800 by the National Science Foundation.

Professor of Biological Sciences and ichthyologist KYLE PILLER received the three-year grant to pursue his studies of Cyprinodontiformes, a diverse order of fishes that consists of 10 families and more than 800 species distributed throughout the world.

The grant is one of the largest individual research grants received by Southeastern. The funds will allow Piller to include two graduate students, as well as several undergraduates in his work.

“This group of fish includes killfishes, guppies and swordtails and is well known among aquarium hobbyists, toxicologists and cancer researchers,” said Piller. “Other groups in the order include the splitfins, or Goodeidae, an imperiled group of freshwater fishes that occur in Mexico and the southwestern United States.”

In addition to graduate and undergraduate students, Piller said he will include a number of international and U.S. collaborators, as well as citizen scientists and organizations interested in the species. Specimens and tissue samples will be deposited in research collections in the U.S. and Mexico so they can be used in future studies of these fish.

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Kyle Piller with graduate student Kimberly Foster


NEWS in LEARNING

SOUTHEASTERN PLANS FOR

new technology buildingAs the demand for graduates in computer science, information technology,

engineering technology and the like continues to grow significantly, Southeastern plans to increase its physical space to house classrooms, labs and the increasing number of students in these programs. Overall, these programs have doubled in enrollment in the past several years. Site preparation should begin this year. The

planned building will be located at the corner of North Oak Street and West Dakota Street on the southeastern corner of campus.


NEWS in LEARNING

Two former Southeastern vice presidents were honored with emeritus honors at the university’s 2014-15 Faculty-Staff Convocation.

President John L. Crain presented the plaques designating emeritus status in recognition of distinguished and extraordinary service to Joseph Miller, former dean of the College of Business and vice president for advancement, and Stephen M. Smith, former vice president for administration and finance. Both are residents of Hammond and alumni of the university.

Miller served the university for 38 years before his retirement in 2008. He joined the faculty in the College of Business in 1970, where he was promoted to head of the Department of Marketing and Economics and later dean of the college. Miller led the college’s successful effort to earn national accreditation by AACSB. He later joined the university administration as vice president for advancement, where he supervised several major capital campaigns.

Smith earned both an accounting degree and MBA at Southeastern and spent most of his professional life at the university, starting in 1977 as a financial reporting accountant. He was promoted to controller in 1980 and in 1990 he was appointed vice president, a position he held for 22 years. Smith retired in 2012 with 35 years of service to the university and continues to serve as part time interim budget director.

KAREN FONTENOT, a professor of communication who has served as interim dean of Southeastern’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for several years, was appointed dean of the college at the beginning of this academic year. The appointment follows a nationwide search.

“Dr. Fontenot’s experience as a professor, department head and service as interim dean of the college make her highly qualified for this position,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tammy Bourg. “The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is Southeastern’s largest college in terms of student enrollment, number of faculty and

number of academic programs. It is also one of the most diverse in terms of degree programs.”

Fontenot is a specialist in the field of interpersonal, intercultural and business communication and is an author or co-author of nearly 70 articles published in professional journals. She holds her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism and a doctorate in communication theory from LSU Baton Rouge.

Fontenot has been a member of the South-eastern faculty since 1992. Previously she held several positions at LSU in the Department of Speech Communication and the College of Business Administration.

FONTENOT NAMED DEAN of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Joseph Miller, Stephen Smith and President John L. Crain

Miller, Smith Honored With EMERITUS STATUS

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ACCOUNTING PROGRAM

NATIONALLY RANKEDSoutheastern’s undergraduate degree program in accounting has been ranked 19th in the country by the web site Accounting Degree Review. The site ranked the 30 most affordable residential degree programs in accounting.

To be considered for the listing, the institution must first be accredited by AACSB, considered the premier accreditation agency in the world for business and accounting programs. The accreditation designation means the program meets specific standards of excellence. The designation is earned by less than five percent

of the world’s business schools. A separate accreditation in accounting requires an additional layer of high quality standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting.

Accounting Degree Review compared schools by examining annual tuition and fees for out-of-state incoming freshmen enrolling in the 2014-15 academic year, as well as scholarship and financial aid information and career advice.

“We are delighted about the ranking. Affordability is a major factor for students in selecting their degree programs, but the quality of the program and the success of its students are most important,” said President John L. Crain.

Interim Dean of the College of Business Antoinette Phillips said the ranking demonstrates the high expectations the program places on student success.

“Even with the tuition increases over recent years, it is good to know that our program represents a significant value for our students,” said Phillips. “Quality of the program remains high, and we believe this is why so many of our students are highly recruited by graduate schools, area businesses and accounting firms.”

Phillips said all programs in the College of Business are accredited by AACSB with the accounting program receiving a separate and distinct accreditation by the international agency.

Pictured above is Southeastern Accounting Professor Robert Braun teaching one of his accounting classes.


NEWS in LEARNING

SOUTHEASTERN STUDENTS ARE NOW WORKING WITH

NORTH OAKS HEALTH SYSTEM IN A PROGRAM DESIGNED

TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR READMISSIONS TO THE

HAMMOND HOSPITAL OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC

DISEASES.

The program is using health coaches who are trained to maintain contact with certain discharged patients to ensure compliance with post-hospital directions. Funded by a three-year $351,989 federal grant from the U.S, Department of Agriculture, the Louisiana Delta Health Coach Program allows the university to train selected students and health care professionals as health coaches for discharged patients who have chronic conditions.

“These patients are particularly prone to hospital readmissions, which is extremely expensive,” explained Ann Carruth, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and recipient of the federal grant.

Ralph Wood, assistant dean of the college and coordinator of the program, explained that the health coach is becoming an important member of the health team. The coaches check with the discharged patients periodically to make sure they are following physicians’ instructions for their home care, including taking medications, following a prescribed diet, and using appropriate therapies.

Wood said under the grant Southeastern is providing training for health coaches, drawing from the pool of students in the kinesiology and health studies program and the health education and promotion program. Following training, students complete a supervised internship at North Oaks.

“This internship opportunity is an example of Southeastern setting the curve of innovative partnerships and training

opportunities for our students,” Wood said. “Students will learn the process of health coaching, as well as receive substantial training in motivational interviewing. To my knowledge, we are the only university in Louisiana providing this level of training to undergraduate students.”

“The internship offered me a wide variety of experiences,” said Bobijo Bode, a health education and promotion senior who has gone through the training and is working this summer at North Oaks. “We had the opportunity to view health care from the perspective of a nurse, social worker, health coach and a patient, both in the hospital setting and in the patient’s home.”

The program is already showing results. Recently North Oaks CEO Michelle Sutton noted that the pilot program has made an impact. Previously, the hospital would readmit about 19% of chronic patients within a 30-day period, while the national average is only 12%. The health coach program with Southeastern has seen only an 11% readmit rate. The program can be a win–win for all involved. Sutton also said, “We have been able to provide a wide range of services to those who especially need our help, and we think that this will result in the hospital being able to save money while providing an extra measure of care to those who need it most, the more seriously ill and the elderly,” Sutton said.

Health Coach interns pictured (from left to right): Ariel Assaf, Grace

Zaloudek, Chelsie Martinez, Gabrielle Davis, Laci Sherman, Jeremy

Smith, Crystal Gonzales, Brandon St. Pierre, Taylor Wall, Kriten Karr

SOUTHEASTERN, NORTH OAKS

work together to reduce H O S P I TA L R E A D M I S S I O N S

F A L L 2 0 1 4 15

a [ somewhat ] scientificYOU SAID IT

POLLING o f ALUMNI

IF SO, are you married to the person of your dreams?

66.4% YES

33.6% NO

57.5% YES

42.5% NO

72.1% YES

5.3% NO

12.9% I THINK SO

9.7% I’ll have to get back to you on that

46.5% YES

53.5% NO

50.5% NO

49.5% YES

HAVE YOU HAD PIZZA in the last week?

We won’t tell who said no!

Did you see at least one of the movies nominated this year for

BEST PICTURE for the ACADEMY AWARDS?

ARE YOU MARRIED?

HAVE YOU VISITED SLU IN THE PAST YEAR?


DOCUMENTARY WINS

National Award

A DOCUMENTARY PRODUCED BY TWO SOUTHEASTERN GRADUATE STUDENTS WAS NAMED THE BEST IN THE NATION BY COLLEGE BROADCASTERS, INC.

Two former Southeastern history students – using the research skills they learned in their studies – have gained considerable attention, as well as national awards, for a documentary on the Celebration of Life, Louisiana’s failed music fest of 1971 in the tiny upriver town of McCrea.

Nicholas Brilleaux and Scott Caro, both graduates of Southeastern’s undergraduate and graduate programs in history, initially produced a two-minute long video on the Woodstock-like event for a public history class.

“I was constantly on the lookout for interesting local history that had not been covered before,” said Brilleaux, a native of England who grew up in Hammond. “My mother casually mentioned the ‘Celebration of Life,’ which I had not heard about before.”

by Rene Abadie and Tonya Lowentritt

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The Celebration of Life, which was held in the hot, sweltering summer of 1971, brought more than 60,000 participants from throughout the country to McCrea, a sleepy Louisiana town located along the Atchafalaya River. Advertised as Louisiana’s version of Woodstock that would feature more than 70 big-name acts, such as the Rolling Stones, Moody Blues and Beach Boys, the festival in reality featured only 10 bands and endured a series of calamities, including local hostility, instances of police brutality, intense summer heat, food and water shortages, and the drowning of four festival-goers in the swift-moving Atchafalaya Basin.

While not pointing blame for the festival’s troubles, Brilleaux and Caro agree that the failed event represented the end of the golden age of the rock festival culture of the late ‘60s, which followed the hugely successful Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock.

“Even though we were only one year into the graduate program, we were thinking like historians,” said Brilleaux. “That led us to approach the topic as professionals. There were two sides to the story, and Scott and I agreed to try and present the entire story as objectively as possible.”

The work associated in completing the documentary was helped immensely by the experiences they gained majoring in history, added Caro, who is now teaching at a New Orleans high school.

“Being trained in historical research and writing was essential to the filmmaking process,” Caro said. “We couldn’t go into our interviews cold. We had to be well versed in the folk history to craft an interview that uncovered new, factual information.

“Historical research is very much the same way,” he continued. “Since there was so little solid information available on the festival, and what there was was often questionable, we had to employ our critical thinking skills to piece together an accurate picture of what really occurred.”

McCrea 1971 Poster

Nick Brilleaux and Scott Caro


After seeing their two-minute piece, their instructor, David Benac, challenged the two with the question, what did they plan to do with the finished project, which they had written, directed, shot and edited themselves. Caro, who is also a musician, wrote some of the soundtrack used in “McCrea.”

“He understood that the two of us had things under control from a filmmaking perspective,” said Brilleaux, who had taken courses in television production and worked at the university’s Southeastern Channel. “He stressed the importance of understanding our potential audience and seeking distribution. Dr. William Robison (head of the Department of History and Political Science) helped us book screenings, including our hometown premiere at the Columbia Theatre in Hammond during Fanfare.”

“We are very proud of Nick and Scott for this outstanding film, which they premiered at the Columbia Theatre as part of the 2013 ‘Then and Now’ Fanfare History and Politics Lecture Series. They have also screened it at film festivals, historical conferences, and special showings in libraries and on other university campuses, as well as on the Southeastern Channel,” said William Robison, head of the Department of History and Political Science. “The thoroughness of their research and the quality of the production are really impressive, and we are extremely happy that Nick and Scott acknowledge the role our faculty played in preparing them to undertake such a project. Nick, Scott, and McCrea 1971 are further proof that a degree in history makes students real world ready by giving them a variety of intellectual and practical skills useful in today’s work force.”

The documentary aired on the Southeastern Channel, the university’s cable access channel. The Channel submitted the documentary in several award competitions, which earned a regional Emmy and two other Emmy nominations, a national Telly Award, and was featured in several film

festivals. The most recent recognition came in the form of a College Broadcasters, Inc. first place award in the Best Documentary/Public Affairs category.

“It doesn’t look like a student production at all,” said Channel General Manager Rick Settoon. “It could easily air on network television – it’s that high in quality.”

More information on the documentary is available at www.mccrea1971.com.

Festival Promotional Posters

F A L L 2 0 1 4 19

DID YOU KNOW?

4 CAMPUS LOCATIONS

HAMMOND MANDEVILLE LIVINGSTONBATON ROUGE

3 M I L L I O NO F O C C U P I E D B U I L D I N G S PA C E

total square feet

O V E R 165B U I L D I N G S

on campus

PAT K E N E L LY D I A M O N D

AT A L U M N I F I E L D

among NCAA baseball stadiums

beds

F O R S T U D E N T S to live O N C A M P U S

3 6 5 A C R E Sof

MAIN HAMMOND CAMPUS


We all know stories of the importance of Southeastern in so many lives. Marriages begin under Friendship Oak’s branches. Friendships start in campus organizations. Futures develop while earning a degree. Business ideas are hatched into plans. The list goes on.

One couple can look at their time at Southeastern and know their lives were put on a path of partnership that developed into a marriage and a very unique business. Zac and Cari Caramonta walked the halls as Southeastern undergraduates and today have been married for six years and have their own brand of beer.

There are two stories to the beer industry - the craft beer companies and the large household name companies. Industry-wide, beer sales and production have seen an overall decrease in the past several years. After a peak in 2008, beer sales have been slowing each year since. However, craft beer production has doubled in just six years. In terms of volume, sales and market share, the craft beer slice of the industry is surging. This is where Gnarly Barley comes into the story.

The Caramontas opened Gnarly Barley Brewing Company in the heart of Hammond in the spring of 2014, and have experienced growth that has surprised even them. Their success, though, is not the result of luck, but of years of planning.

fe a t u re STORY

GNARLY BARLEY: HOME GROWN BREW

by Mike Rivault

F A L L 2 0 1 4 21

GNARLY BARLEY: HOME GROWN BREW

Zac and Cari attended Southeastern in the mid-2000’s. Cari, a Family and Consumer Science graduate, was majoring in merchandising and minoring in marketing. Zac was completing his general studies degree. They both took courses in White Hall, encountered each other between classes and caught each other’s eye.

“It ends up, we had mutual friends, but didn’t know it,” said Cari. Zac grew up in Mandeville and Cari in Covington. As the story goes, love blossomed on campus and the die was cast.

After marrying in 2009, the couple was wide open to the world of possibilities. “I like to work physical labor and design and build things,” noted Zac. Cari added, “And I like the business side of things. I often used to say that I feel like a business owner without a business yet.”

Searching for adventure and opportunity, they turned their eyes to the West Coast. Zac explained, “My brother worked in the movie industry in L.A. and thought he could get me a job doing set design and construction. There would also be opportunities for Cari in merchandising or marketing, so we went out there to take a look.”


fe a t u re STORY

After visiting California, the two knew that there was no place like home and decided to settle back in the area. “We knew we wanted to be back here,” said Cari.

Zac, an avid skateboarder, loved that Hammond had a great skate park, and they settled in Ponchatoula. Another of Zac’s hobbies was home brewing. Back home, he spent time learning more about the craft and approached brewing like he approached any project, with a great deal of research and planning.

“I didn’t want to just buy a beer making kit and brew something no one would want to drink, so I took my time and learned about everything – recipes, processes, equipment. It was all so interesting,” said Zac.

After much research, planning, and recipe creating, Zac did his first full brew in their kitchen – and it was a success. Cari noted, “After that, Zac said ‘I know I was put on this Earth to brew beer.’ I knew that we might have a future in this.” Soon thereafter, Zac designed and built a larger scale brewing system and moved from the kitchen to the garage.

In 2011, the couple made the jump into the business world, forming an LLC and getting ready to produce beer to sell. Zac wanted to create something unique, very high quality, great tasting and memorable for their first public effort into the world of craft brewing. For the New Orleans on Tap festival in 2011, he worked tirelessly on coming up with an original recipe.

“I built the recipe from scratch including making my own water. It was our first beer unique to our new company, the Korova Milk Porter,” said Zac.

Still working in the garage, he brewed success. The recipe he created and used then is the same recipe they use today. “I’ve tried to change it, but I keep going back to the original. It’s that good.” At that first festival, their beers were very well received.

fe a t u re STORY

F A L L 2 0 1 4 23

So the success story is great, but is the beer any good? Yes it is and uniquely so. When asked what makes Gnarly Barley beer so good, needless to say, Zac can’t give away any particular secrets, but based on the research and testing done before production, the methodical understanding of each step of the brewing process, the obvious care given to recipe creation and the thoughtful nature of building the brewing equipment, one would expect no less than a superior product.

“WE DON’T TAKE ANY SHORT CUTS. OUR BEER GOES

FROM GRAIN TO KEG IN ABOUT 28 DAYS. WE COULD

DO SOME THINGS TO TRIM THAT TIME DOWN TO

ABOUT HALF AS MANY DAYS – AS MANY OF THE

LARGER AND MORE TYPICAL BREWERIES DO – BUT

TO ME THAT JUST WOULDN’T BE DOING IT RIGHT,” explained Zac. It all starts with grain, yeast and water. “I build my own water. I get water to 99.9% purity and then build it up from there with careful mixes of minerals.”

Gnarly Barley orders grains from various global regions depending on the beer and can get any specific type of yeast needed as well. Most of the barley they use are bought directly from farmers in Oregon and is of the highest quality. “They grow the best,” said Zac. Instead of a more efficient barley that grows more on each plant, they use one that grows less on each plant, but is more flavorful.

So in addition to the highest quality ingredients, building each component and input from the ground up and not rushing the process, the last ingredient is that care put into it all. Zac runs the operation of the brewery himself and supplies the majority of the labor. He wants to make sure quality is at the level he has set, and generally does it himself.

WHY OUR BEER IS SO GOOD . . .

After working festivals and brewing small quantities, the couple knew the time was right to move to the next level. As with everything, Zac approached their next steps methodically with a lot of research. The small operation they had going in the garage was not going to be an appropriate scale on which to operate a successful business, and they wanted to ensure whatever system they started with would carry the business for a long time.

“After all of my research, it looked like a 15-barrel system was optimal for business purposes … and we ended up with a 30-barrel system,” said Zac. The 30-barrel brewing system allows Gnarly Barley to grow for many years with high volume of growth and not have to invest in new equipment. Cari noted, “To grow, all we’ll need is more cellaring equipment at some point. Our brewing operation will continue to be all we need.” Cellaring equipment are the components related to storing product for fermentation.

After having built his own system at home, Zac knew just what he needed and began working with the equipment manufacturer to customize a system that was nearly identical to his small scale system in his garage, just on a much larger scale. “After a pretty extensive search, we located the building we are in in 2013 and ordered the custom system we needed while we prepared the building,” said Cari.

They wanted the location of the business to be close to home, and the former warehouse in Hammond turned out to be perfect for their needs. With some cleaning and renovation to fit the needs of brewing beer, Gnarly Barley was soon ready to brew.

Releasing their first beers in May 2014, growth in the past months has been far beyond expectations. “January was a great month. While most breweries tend to slow down in the winter, we continued to grow,” said Zac.


fe a t u re STORY

GNARLY BARLEY CURRENTLY PRODUCES THREE MAIN BEERS

From the company’s website:

CATAHOULA COMMON

The Catahoula Common isn’t quite so common. It’s a light colored refreshing lager with the “bite” of an ale. Its medium body and slight fruitiness from the atypical fermentation temperature creates an enjoyable Louisiana weather brew.

RADICAL RYE P.A.

An India Pale Ale coupled with the peppery spice of rye and a big malty backbone. This bad boy is hoppy, spicy, sweet and strong...which we think makes it pretty rad!

KOROVA MILK PORTER

This Baltic Oatmeal Milk Porter will change the way you think about porters. From its sweet coffee and chocolate flavor, to its silky smooth finish, this is one unique brew. So sit back and enjoy her sultry sweet side.

“ ZAC SAID ‘I know I was put

on this Earth to brew beer.’

I KNEW THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A

FUTURE IN THIS.”- Cari Caramonta

after Zac’s first full home brew

fe a t u re STORY

F A L L 2 0 1 4 25

Each beer is an original recipe created by Zac, and all three have received acclaim, both locally or regionally. Gnarly Barley beers have won awards in the region, as well as being listed on every regional top beer list and ranking since opening last year.

As of publication, Gnarly Barley was offered in nearly 300 bars and restaurants from Lafayette to Slidell. “We are currently carried by five distributors and will soon add to that and reach into Mississippi and beyond,” Cari said.

Zac and Cari see strong growth for some time based on current sales trends and the feedback they are receiving. At some juncture, they intend to offer bottled beer, but see that some time off.

“Once we reach a certain saturation level in the regional market, we will look at bottling to continue to grow,” said Zac. “Some day in the not too distant future, you’ll be able to grab a six pack of Gnarly Barley beer in your local grocery store.”

A new business created to be a part of a fast growing industry – from the will of two entrepreneurs that knew success was attainable – and it all started with two Southeastern students passing each other in White Hall between classes.


LOOK AT us NOW

F A L L 2 0 1 4 27

THE NEW STUDENT UNION

HAS QUICKLY BECOME THE HEART OF CAMPUSAND A FAVORITE GATHERING PLACE.


Fred Rogers, the legendary children’s advocate, educator and host of

television’s Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, was often quoted about the importance of play in a child’s life. “For children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood,” he would say.

For most children, play comes naturally, helping the child develop learning skills, such as problem-solving, language, memory, imagination and cooperation with others , while promoting a healthy body and self-confidence.

“Young children learn and develop through play and exploration,” explained Cindy Elliott, interim head of the Southeastern Department of Teaching and Learning. “Play is innate with all children, but those with certain disabilities may experience various roadblocks. We know that a child’s abilities, disabilities, hardships and culture can affect their perception of the world around them.”

Camille Yates and Colleen Klein-Ezell, both associate professors of education at Southeastern, are looking to make the university a community resource to help families and children with disabilities through the use of specialized toys and environments that assist them in overcoming barriers to participate in the play experience.

The facilities include a Lekotek play session room and two Snoezelen rooms, specially designed spaces that encourage relaxation and active exploration by children. Through two grants from the Louisiana Board of Regents Enhancement Program, the university is now operating the rooms for families, making Southeastern the first university in the nation to host both highly specialized facilities.

Lekotek is Swedish for play library, while Snoezlen is adapted from Dutch

words meaning to explore and to relax. Currently there are only 16 affiliate sites located in eight states. Southeastern hosts the only site in Louisiana.

Klein-Ezell explained that Lekotek, intended for children from one to eight years old, uses adapted toys, technology and play sessions for families to assist children in overcoming barriers they may have to participate in the play experience.

Through individual and group play sessions – supervised by Klein-Ezell, Yates, and trained undergraduate and graduate education majors – family members learn how to play and interact effectively with their children who have disabilities.

The toy lending program associated with Lekotek provides enrolled families with special, adaptive toys for the children on a loan basis. The toys are intended to fit specific learning needs

SOUTHEASTERN OFFERS SPECIALIZED FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

making play available for all children By Rene Abadie

F A L L 2 0 1 4 29

of children, explained Klein-Ezell, while helping the children to develop an understanding and ability to relate to the outside world.

“Each family that participates in Lekotek, will set goals for their child, come in each month to participate in a play session and choose appropriate toys they can take home on loan. They will also have the opportunity to participate in other activities provided by Lekotek and Snoezelen,” she said.

“I learned about this through my church, and it is pretty awesome,” said parent Christie Holmes of Walker, while watching her five-year-old daughter Emma gradually get past her initial shyness and engage in play with two Southeastern students. “Emma can really benefit from this.”

The two Snoezelen rooms provide different environments depending upon the child’s needs. One room is a physical activity center, equipped with a specially designed swing and other equipment that provide stimulation. The other room provides a more relaxing, quiet environment that presents other experiences.

Snoezelen is what is called a multi-sensory environment that incorporates a specialized selection of equipment and materials that can help individuals adapt their responses to sensory stimulation, advance education and reach specific goals. The Snoezelen rooms provide items, such as bubble tubes and fiber optics, to stimulate the visual system; a variety of mats, cushions and textures that stimulate the tactile system; different sounds, including relaxing music, to stimulate hearing; and rockers, swings and other motion furnishings to help in balance and body awareness.

Klein-Ezell said the Snoezelen rooms are very appropriate for individuals

with Down syndrome, autism, developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, visual and hearing impairments, and sensory processing issues.

“This is phenomenal. I have never seen anything like this before,” said Lori Dahl of Mandeville. She watched as her nine-year-old son Jack, who has autism, played actively with special education majors and other children in one of the Snoezelen rooms.

“JACK IS SO ENGAGED IN EVERYTHING,

AND I CAN’T WAIT FOR OTHER

FAMILIES TO SEE THIS. IT’S A GREAT

RESOURCE, AND IT’S THE ULTIMATE

PLAYROOM. I AM THRILLED I HEARD

ABOUT THIS AND PLAN TO COME HERE

REGULARLY WITH JACK.”

Tamara Cannon of Tickfaw is the executive director of R.E.A.C.H. , a non-profit group that provides resources, education and advocacy for children with disabilities and their families. Her eight-year-old son Brian – who has Down syndrome and autism – was enjoying a swing with his university student before moving on to some of the other activities available in the two rooms.

“This is truly amazing. The children are interacting well and the parents love it,” Cannon said. “It’s just wonderful and will be a real community resource. We want to see that the families of children with disabilities get all the help they need.”

The facilities also provide ideal training opportunities for teacher candidates, especially in the field of special education. Yates said all of the rooms are equipped with cameras which can record sessions between the teacher candidates and the children and youth.

“This allows us to show our special ed majors examples of good interactions between the student and the facilitator/teacher,” she said. “The rooms are a great teaching tool for our teacher candidates.”

Special education junior Stevie Thompson of Baton Rouge was experiencing her first time working with children in the specialized rooms.

“It’s a lot of fun and a great opportunity for these kids to experience,” she said. “It’s also good for us as special ed students. When we go into a school as a teacher, we’ll have some great ideas on how we can incorporate some of these concepts in our work with kids.”

Klein-Ezell is not concerned about building a network of families to use the facilities. She has received inquiries from the university’s communication and science disorders program and the counseling program about the possibility of some of their clients using the rooms as well. And as word about the services expands, there should be no shortage of families wanting to participate.

“Special needs parents are special themselves,” she said. “They will go anywhere they need to go to get help for their child.”


If we wait for kids to start preparing in high school for careers in science and technology, then we’re waiting much too long.

That’s the sentiment of most college professors and employers, who are strongly encouraging elementary and junior high school students to get exposure to science, technology, engineering and math – STEM – early in their academic careers if they expect to be successful handling the challenges they will face in college.

Southeastern Professor Sebastian van Delden, head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering Technology, takes an aggressive approach to encouraging the young people he meets to start early in their preparations. Using undergraduate and graduate students, fellow instructors and gaining help from area

businesses, van Delden’s department sponsors camps and hands-on demonstration projects for elementary and junior high students.

“We want to get them excited about their possible future careers. These events are a valuable way of getting kids interested in STEM careers from an early age, while stressing the importance of math in these disciplines,” he said.

“Unfortunately many youngsters don’t understand the importance of math in any engineering or computer science field,” he added. “Once they enter college it becomes difficult to build the pre-requisite math foundation they need to be successful.”

Southeastern’s computer science program last year sponsored a week-long camp in robotics and computer

–related technology for 12-14 year-olds and for students ages 15 and above. Financial support for the venture was provided by one of the university’s business partners, Dow Chemical.

Included among the activities were building robots to perform a variety of functions, such as cleaning up trash and navigating corridors. The students observed robotic technologies in action, including demonstrations by the Louisiana State Police of one of their bomb squad robots. They even got the opportunity to operate various helicopter drones under faculty supervision.

ROBOTIC LABS ENCOURAGE

YOUNG STUDENTS TO PREPARE FOR

COLLEGE AND STEM CAREERS by Renee Abadie

F A L L 2 0 1 4 31

Camp participant Michael Kraemar, a student at the Silliman Institute in Clinton, said he had been looking forward to the camp and wasn’t disappointed in any way.

“My interests are in engineering and robotics, and I wanted to get a little experience and learn more about robotics,” he said. “The camp was a perfect fit for me.”

Several Southeastern students assisted as camp counselors and say they benefitted from the experience.

Computer science senior Myriah Durasso of Sulphur said she was able to gain experience guiding the students to a solution and helping them with technical issues. The best part of the camp, she said, was how interested and excited the students were and how effectively they completed the challenges they were presented.

“The primary reason for my interest, however, was to share my love for computer science and technology,” she said. “It’s important that children are exposed to new technologies at a young age. I’m very passionate about my field of study, and I hope the younger generation will become more involved.”

van Delden is inclined to offer learning opportunities to even younger students, stressing the importance of developing an excitement and eagerness to learn among elementary school students. The department last fall provided a one-day camp for two Girl Scout troops with assistance from business partner IBM and the Southeastern Student Section of Women in Technology.

The girls learned how to use the LEGO Mindstorm robotic system with an ultrasonic sensor to make robots that could capture paper fairies they also made, said Vivian Boykan, a recent Southeastern graduate and employee with IBM in Baton Rouge. She and several members of the university’s Women in Technology organization volunteered to assist the girls with the project and answer their questions.

“Encouraging young girls and women to look at science and technology as possible careers is important for future industry,” van Delden explained. “Our goal in these types of programs is to reduce the gender gap in computer science, technology and other sciences and encourage more women to enter the fields as professionals.”


S outheastern Professor Dayne Sherman has released his second novel, Zion, a mystery based on a true story that takes place in rural south Louisiana.

Sherman chronicles the story of increased restrictions and limitations on residents and small farmers by large timber companies seeking to replace hardwood forests with more lucrative pine trees.

The disputes that follow led to the demise of open range policies in the early 1960s that allowed small farmers and ranchers to graze their livestock and to enjoy the good hunting lands treasured by generations of area dwellers.

“One day while talking to a distant cousin, Ron Traylor in the Department of History and Political Science, I learned about this old dispute over the killing of hardwoods like oak and replacing them with faster growing pines,” recalls Sherman.

The resultant feud led to the timber wars that followed in which pine forests became the attention of arsonists. The conflict was heralded by the slogan of the locals, “For Every Oak a Pine.”

Sherman immediately began writing his fictionalized version and within a few days had finished a third of the novel. “It took seven years to complete the rest of the novel, but I was on a clear path,” he said.

Sherman’s story takes place in his fictional Baxter Parish in rural Louisiana, which he created and popularized in his first novel, Welcome to the Fallen Paradise. A sometimes violent and bloody locale, Baxter Parish is populated with tight knit families, whose beliefs are forged in small community churches, such as the Little Zion Methodist Church in Zion.

Philip Shirley, author of The White Lie, says Sherman’s story is a channeling of Deep South author Erskine Caldwell – writer of Tobacco Road, and God’s Little Acre – where the reader sees the flaws in good, rural Southern folks and a glimmer of hope for the evil ones. “This is a compelling story of coming of age in a small town,” Shirley notes, “of the consequences of greed and selfishness, of the natural struggles between father and son and husband and wife, and of the terror and consequences of getting caught for evil deeds that seemingly ordinary people sometimes hid from their families.”

media SHELF

S H E R M A N ’S N E W N OV E L

based on true story in Louisiana

Dayne Sherman

F A L L 2 0 1 4 33

T he new Centaur recording Embers is a collection of contemporary concert music for solo saxophone in various combinations with piano and electronics.

Each work showcases the talents of former Southeastern saxophonist Richard Schwartz and demonstrates his ability to shift nimbly between different musical styles. The album features performances and compositions by Southeastern faculty Kenneth Boulton, Stephen Suber, Kari Besharse, and Philip Schuessler.

The album opens with a fierce alto saxophone solo written by Ray Pizzi, a skilled, inveterate composer and arranger of the California film scoring and jazz scene. “Combat Zone” pays tribute to the downtown Boston music scene where Pizzi spent his formative musical years playing in rock clubs. The piece opens with a raucous jazz-funk riff that moves deftly into some unexpected lyrical territory before winding back to where it started. Schwartz’s playing is unbridled and intense.

The next two works on the album pair Schwartz with pianist Kenneth Boulton. Philip Schuessler’s “Intervals I” takes a calculated approach to forming the instruments’ melodic lines into a fervent dialogue of harmony and color. Stephen Suber’s “Angels” is a meditation on a painting by John McCrady entitled “Sing Low, Sweet Chariot.” The first movement exploits the lyrical quality of the saxophone’s high register through a quasi-improvisatory line, while the piano has bursts of rhythmic energy that interlock with the saxophone. The contrapuntal nature of the opening of the second movement creates ponderous sonic landscape that transitions into a focused, jubilant crescendo in the second half. Schwartz and Boulton demonstrate remarkable craftsmanship in the execution of these challenging works.

The next two pieces on the album feature instruments with electronic sounds. “Interruptions III” and “Driftwood Box Puzzle,” both by Schuessler, incorporate sampled, processed sounds of instruments with the live saxophone

and piano to create a kaleidoscopic exploration of acoustic and electronic timbres. At times, sounds blend together to blur the distinction between the sound sources. The music is ethereal and

abstract. Schwartz’s playing is again on display, as his musical lines are precise yet sensitive to the otherworldly electronics accompanying him.

The centerpiece of the album is Kari Besharse’s “Embers,” a contemplative study of the inner nature of tone and timbre for saxophone and piano. Schwartz plays thorny microtones on the saxophone, while Schuessler plucks and strums the strings inside the piano. These “disembodied” sounds take familiar instruments and thrust them into unfamiliar territory, demanding the listener to follow along astutely.

This collection features many diverse styles of contemporary music, yet the pieces work together in the way they are ordered on the album and how they share common musical themes of color, form, and energy.

Embers: MUSIC FOR SAXOPHONE WITH PIANO AND ELECTRONICS by Philip Schuessler

From left are Philip Schuessler, Stephen Suber, Kenneth Boulton, Kari Besharse

Photo top right: Richard Schwartz


BY DAY, SOUTHEASTERN PROFESSOR SANICHIRO YOSHIDA TEACHES PHYSICS AND WORKS WITH STUDENTS IN HIS LAB, RESEARCHING APPLICATIONS OF LASER OPTICAL INTERFEROMETY. HE’S A SCIENTIST’S SCIENTIST WHO JUST AUTHORED A TEXTBOOK APPLYING SPECIFIC CONCEPTS OF PHYSICS TO ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS, DEFORMATION AND FRACTURE OF SOLID-STATE MATERIALS. BUT DON’T LET HIS DAY-JOB EXPERTISE FOOL YOU.

By night he dons a gi, and his other line of expertise shines: Judo expert teaching students the art of judo. Yoshida is a ranked third degree black belt in Kodo-kan Judo, and shares his love of the martial arts by teaching it to a wide range of Southeastern students. He has studied the martial art since he was 12 years old. It makes sense that a physicist would love Judo, a martial art that demands an understanding of the physics of forces, torques, stability and rotational motion.

“I had been interested in Judo since I was in elementary school,” Yoshida said. “I was recruited in middle school by the Judo team head coach and have loved it ever since.”

A native of Japan, Yoshida went on to become ranked No. 5 in Tokyo. He moved to the United States in his 20s and once had the opportunity to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Yoshida said that Judo is a gentle, flexible way of living and involves two individuals who, by gripping the gi (the judo uniform), use the forces of balance, movement and power to subdue their opponent.

According to Yoshida, Judo helps with self-control, perseverance, respect for others, and provides protection from injuries. When asked if Judo has helped in other ways, Yoshida said it definitely has helped in his chosen career.

by Tonya Lowentritt

after OFFICE HOURS

a tale of two teachers

PHYSICIST BY DAY, JUDO MASTER BY NIGHT

F A L L 2 0 1 4 35

“The basic principle of Judo is not to resist anything, to think and analyze deeply. Also, it is important to study hard – this is certainly true of Kodo-kan Judo,” he said. “For anyone interested in studying Judo, it will help them become a better person, reduce the chance of injuries, and increase the level of fun.”

Eventually, Yoshida’s love of Judo led him to teaching the craft, although he wasn’t qualified to teach a class at Southeastern. He spent four weeks in Japan in 2012 taking an instructor’s course in order to meet the professional qualifications to teach a class in Judo.

He has been teaching it now for four years at Southeastern, passing on his knowledge and skills to scores of students. One student in particular, Colt Cutrer, a junior kinesiology major from Walker, participated in the 9th Annual Gulf Coast Judo Open Tournament in January and won first place in his division.

“Colt only began practicing Judo three semesters ago,” Yoshida said. “He and about 10 more of my students are planning to participate in the 2016 summer intensive Judo training session at Kodokan (Tokyo, Japan) in July.”

Cutrer cites Judo with helping him both inside and outside of the classroom.

“I THINK JUDO HAS HELPED ME DEAL WITH A LOT OF THE

STRESS THAT COMES WITH COLLEGE,” CUTRER SAID. “IN

JUDO, EVERYONE IS TRYING THEIR BEST AND HELPING

ONE ANOTHER.”

Cutrer added that for him, the helpful atmosphere of Judo follows him outside of the classroom.

“I’m glad Dr. Yoshida decided to teach Judo at Southeastern, otherwise, I might never have found out about it,” he said. “Dr. Yoshida is an excellent teacher. He is always willing to help someone interested in learning. I hope I can continue learning from him for as long as he teaches Judo.”

Yoshida with his newly published book


making waves

Calvin Fabre, Southeastern alumnus and founder, CEO

of Envoc

A software development and creative design company started

by alumnus Calvin Fabre and originally launched in Southeastern’s Business Incubator has been making some national waves lately. The company was recently listed in Inc. Magazine’s list of 5,000 fastest growing businesses in the country and received significant accolades for a new education-based product.

Envoc, which specializes in custom software, Web and mobile application development, saw 141 percent growth in 2013 and was ranked 18th out of 41 Louisiana companies that made the national listing. Envoc was listed as number 2,652 nationally.

With its main office currently in Baton Rouge, Envoc still maintains a presence in the Southeastern Business Incubator and heavily recruits from Southeastern students and graduates.

Fabre, owner and founder of the company, said having so many Louisiana firms on the list speaks highly of the entrepreneurial spirit and determination that exists in the state.

“We are proud to be counted among this group,” he said. “We owe our continued success to the passionate and talented professionals added to our team, thanks in no small part, to the

relationship we have with Southeastern and our tenancy in the Small Business Development Center Incubator.”

Envoc partners with the university’s Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology to provide internships and job opportunities for the university’s students and graduates. One of its latest products is making correction of tests easier – for teachers, not students. Seeking to make multiple choice grading more efficient, Envoc has released a new test grading product called BubbleVision.

“BubbleVision was developed as a quick and easy way for educators to grade bubble sheet tests,” said Fabre. “With over 99 percent accuracy, BubbleVision is changing the face of student assessment and teacher efficiency by reading what other systems cannot. It can differentiate between intended and unintended marks on a test sheet with the ability to learn and adapt to real-world examples. It even becomes more accurate over time.”

Fabre said the idea for BubbleVision came from working with a client who had 5,000 bubble sheets rejected by a grading machine. The company was asked to write software that could recognize unintended marks as opposed to hand-grading the rejected 5,000 tests, Fabre explained.

F A L L 2 0 1 4 37

“After some revisions, our software was able to grade the tests to over 99 percent accuracy,” he said. “When a second client had the same issue within a few months, we knew a product was missing from the marketplace. Thus, BubbleVision was born.”

ENVOC EMPLOYS NINE SOUTHEASTERN COMPUTER SCIENCE GRADUATES AND HAS HIRED FOUR SOUTHEASTERN INTERNS WHO CURRENTLY ARE GAINING REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE WORKING IN A SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT OPERATION.

“That team of staff and students worked almost exclusively on BubbleVision using their creativity and the software development skills learned from Southeastern,” Fabre said. “The team will continue to manage, refine, monitor and host the software while writing integrations when bringing on new clients that need accurate bubble sheet grading.”

Fabre said there is a mutually beneficial energy shared by the university and Envoc. Students get excited about being involved in real-world problem solving with actual clients, and Envoc is energized by the youthful commitment and enthusiasm of students gifted and trained with problem solving skills in technology.

“It’s a win-win,” he said. “I wish I had this opportunity in my impressionable years as a computer science student. It would have made my first few years of study much more enjoyable and meaningful.”

The Envoc Team


KEEPING FOCUS ON THE PONTCHARTRAIN BASIN

The areas south of campus have seen the forests and marshland degrade in the past decades. Southeastern continues to be part of working towards solutions that will rebuild the area to a more sustainable ecosystem. Recently, two projects have demonstrated the efforts to reach out and benefit our region as a whole.

REFORESTATION

Wetlands scientists and students at Southeastern Louisiana University this fall will be using a recent settlement of a civil lawsuit to continue reforestation efforts in area wetlands.

A $33,000 fine and settlement was approved earlier this month in Baton

Rouge by U.S. District Judge James Brady following a suit filed against a Tennessee businessman by the Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper and the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, two Louisiana environmental groups. The suit alleged the landowner harvested cypress trees around Lake Maurepas without a permit, cutting trees that were more than 100 years old, causing damage to the hydrology of the land, adding pollutants to the waterways, and inviting invasive species that have negatively affected the area’s ecology.

“Both environmental groups are well aware of the research and reforestation work we have been doing in south Louisiana and suggested those funds go to us,” said Gary Shaffer, professor of biology and a member of the board of the Atchafalya Basinkeeper.

Shaffer, who is director of Southeastern’s Wetland Restoration Lab, said the funds will pay for the cultivation and planting of 3,300 bald cypress and water tupelo saplings. The plants will be adequately nutria-proofed, he explained, as the invasive and prolific rodents are a major nuisance in attempts to replant cypress saplings.

Shaffer and his team of undergraduate and graduate students are currently cultivating seedlings for planting, which will begin in the fall.

The Southeastern team plans to plant nearly 20,000 cypress and tupelo trees over the next two years as a part of a 20-year effort to restore the Manchac and Maurepas swamps.

protectingM A U R E P A S

F A L L 2 0 1 4 39


F R O M Christmas TO M A R S H B U I L D I N GSoutheastern Louisiana University has added a pilot research project to its annual Christmas tree collection effort designed to enhance wetland restoration efforts in the Pass Manchac area.

Southeastern scientists at the university’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station, located on Pass Manchac between lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, use the discarded trees to help build up marshland in areas that have been impacted by erosion and other factors.

Turtle Cove Manager Rob Moreau said the university received approval from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to initiate a pilot project to determine whether the recycled trees can help rebuild the logging ditches, formed when the area’s cypress forests were cut down over a hundred-plus year span.

F A L L 2 0 1 4 41

“The ditches allow salt water intrusion and increase the erosion process,” Moreau said. “This year we plan to place trees in some selected ditches to determine if they can accumulate enough sediment that might assist in filling them in. We’ll monitor and evaluate this process over the next several years to determine its feasibility. If successful, this technique could be used in other similarly stressed ecosystems in coastal Louisiana.”

A new partner in the project is the Southeastern Sustainability Center on North Oak Street, which served as a drop-off point for area residents to leave their used Christmas trees.

This marks the 20th straight year Southeastern has conducted its recycled tree program, which in the past was supported with funds from the state’s Natural Resources Program.

“Since the grant was discontinued several years ago, we’ve had to rely mainly on volunteers and students from various university courses,” Moreau said. “Since 1995 we’ve deployed approximately 35,000 Christmas trees in the marsh on the edges of islands and land masses in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.”

Moreau said the benefits of the tree recycling program include protection against shoreline erosion, building of land to offset subsidence and sea-level rise, creation of new habitats for plants and animals and reducing waste going to landfills.

“The program is also a great way to conduct community service and environmental education from a hands-on standpoint for people of all ages,” he said.

Rob Moreau, Turtle Cove Manager

If successful, this technique could be used in other similarly stressed ecosys-tems in coastal Louisiana.


ATHLETICS

In the 18 months since he took over as the Athletic Director at

Southeastern, Jay Artigues has seen the Lions and Lady Lions thrive on and off the field. But Artigues’ coaching instincts are ever present, and the former baseball skipper knows Southeastern must continue to grow and improve if the program is to maintain a place in the upper echelon of the Southland Conference.

Despite the desire to continue the progress, Artigues still recognizes the recent accomplishments of Southeastern on the playing field. DURING THE 2013-14 ATHLETIC

YEAR, SOUTHEASTERN LED THE

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE WITH FIVE

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS –

SETTING A SCHOOL RECORD FOR THE

MOST LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS WON

IN A SINGLE ATHLETIC YEAR.

The Southeastern football team ensured the 2014-15 year would get off to a good start. The Lions finished 9-4 overall, won its second straight Southland title and advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the second consecutive year. Artigues is particularly proud of SLU’s efforts on the gridiron. After many years of not having football as a sport, the struggles and efforts to bring it back, and the challenging years after its return, the turnaround is an incredible source of pride.

“The progress we’ve made in our football program has been tremendous,” Artigues said. “Coach (Ron) Roberts and his staff set the tone for the players with their tireless work ethic. They are relentless in their desire to win and that rubs off on our student-athletes.”

Artigues is also proud of the efforts of student-athletes at the next level. Former Lion Wade Miley recently inked a three-year, $19.25 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, while SLU alum Robert Alford has cracked the starting lineup in just his second year with the Atlanta Falcons. Two-time All-Southland Conference quarterback Bryan Bennett, who played in the 2015 Senior Bowl, is expected to be the next Lion to have a chance to thrive at the next level after shining at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“It’s great for us to have our former student-athletes excel professionally,” Artigues said. “When Wade signs a big contract with the Red Sox or Robert stars with the Falcons, Southeastern is mentioned and that’s great publicity

Artigues Sees A Strong Future For

SOUTHEASTERN ATHLETICS by Kemmler Chappele

F A L L 2 0 1 4 43

by Kemmler Chappele

It’s great for us

to have our former

student-athletes excel

professionally... It’s

not just a plus for our

athletic department, but

it’s also beneficial for our

university as a whole.” Jay Artigues, Athletic Director


for SLU. It’s not just a plus for our athletic department, but it’s also beneficial for our university as a whole.”

Artigues points to the strength of the staff and the athletic administration as one of the primary reasons for the success.

“We had to make some changes early on, but we feel that we’re blessed with a great staff,” Artigues commented. “We have great coaches and we’ve backed them up with an outstanding support staff. Their efforts show in the success our student-athletes have had in the classroom as well as on the field.”

Artigues continues to look for the Lions and Lady Lions to improve across the board. One area in which Southeastern is still progressing is on the basketball court. Artigues believes the future is bright under head men’s basketball coach Jay Ladner and head women’s basketball coach Yolanda Moore.

“We had to make some strategic changes in our basketball program to enable a renewal and a new level of success,” Artigues stated. “We feel that Jay and Yolanda have done an excellent job thus far and have their programs heading in the right direction.”

There are two areas that Artigues wants to focus on improving in the near future. Artigues believes facility improvement and growth of the Lion Athletics Association are key to SLU’s future success.

“We still need to improve all of our facilities,” Artigues said. “We’re behind where we need to be in that area and improving our home fields and courts are a huge priority. Facility improvement goes

hand in hand with our desire to increase support for our Lion Athletics Association. The LAA has made great strides in the past year, but we have to continue to focus on strengthening the LAA. The LAA is vital to our success.”

Artigues’ excitement and determination about building a sustained successful program are evident, and the signs of success keep adding up. Larger crowds, greater support, more media coverage and success on the field all are adding up to strong program with a very strong future.

ATHLETICS

F A L L 2 0 1 4 45

We had to make some

strategic changes in our

basketball program to

enable a renewal and a

new level of success... We

feel that Jay [Ladner] and

Yolanda [Moore] have done

an excellent job thus far

and have their programs

heading in the right

direction.” Jay Artigues, Athletic Director

Men’s Basketball Head Coach Jay Ladner


CLASS notes

‘ 6 2 | ROBERT HARDY, PH.D. , a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, has been elected a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his efforts to prevent blindness. Dr. Hardy and his UT colleagues have focused on diseases affecting the retina by working on medications designed to inhibit activity of disease-causing genes. He is a biostatistician who helped design clinical trials needed to learn more about retinopathy of prematurity. ’ 6 5 | DR. ROBIN E. POYNOR, professor of art and art history at the University of Florida, is helping to coordinate an African art exhibition currently touring parts of the country. “Kongo across the Waters” has already been seen at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Princeton University and is showing at the New Orleans Museum of Art. The exhibit is a joint project organized by the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida-Gainesville and the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium.

’ 6 6 | RONALD BOEHM of Houston has written a book, The Boys on Cherry Street: From the Crazy Innocence of College to the Loss of Innocence in Vietnam. Available through Amazon, the book is a collection of stories starting with zany antics of the author and his college friends and continuing through his U.S. Marine Corps training, flight school and service in Vietnam.

‘ 7 8 | DAWN AMACKER of Mandeville was re-elected judge of Division L of the 22nd Judicial Court for St. Tammany and Washington parishes.

’ 7 9 , ’ 8 9 | THERESE DOMIANO of Hammond, has been elected to the District C seat of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board. She has 30 years of experience as a teacher and school administrator.

’ 8 0 | MARK MORGAN has been named a research fellow analyst for risk management at ARG Consulting, an information and technology firm. Morgan is a professor of accounting at Mississippi College and a former senior auditor and criminal investigator for the Mississippi Department of Revenue.

’ 8 3 | CHERYL QUINN BRUMFIELD of Natalbany has been appointed to the South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission by Gov. Bobby Jindal. She is a vice president for First Guaranty Bank.

’ 8 4 , ’ 8 8 | MICHELE K. SUTTON of Hammond, North Oaks Health System Executive Vice President and CEO, has been elected to serve on the Council of Regents for the American College of Healthcare Executives, effective March 15. Sutton will represent the council’s membership in the Southeast Region of the U.S. The council serves as a link between the American Council of Heathcare Executives and members by approving governance and membership regulations.

’ 8 9 | MICHAEL HANLEY of Leander, Tex., has been appointed to the Governing Board of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired for a term to expire in 2017. He is the senior district executive for the Capitol Area Council of Boy Scouts of America for the Earnes and Lake Travis Independent School districts.

’ 8 9 | JAN KAISER of Cypress, Tex., has been named senior executive director of Avanti at Town Lake, a program of Avanti Senior Living. She has more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare field.

KEEPING in touch

F A L L 2 0 1 4 47

’ 9 1 | MIKE DUBOIS of Albany, La., has been promoted to vice president at R&D LifeSciences. With 30 years of experience in agricultural sales and management, he previously served as the company’s National Business Development Manager.

‘ 9 2 | JAY LAMBERT has been promoted to vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at the University of Houston-Victoria. Lambert joined UHV last year from Lamar University, where he was assistant vice president for student engagement.

’ 9 5 | SHERMAN MACK of Albany, a Louisiana State representative, has received the 2014 Legislator of the Year Award presented by the Louisiana Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. He was one of 81 legislators in the U.S. to be honored.

’ 9 7 | CASIE MCMURRAY of Denham Springs was named association executive for the Livingston Parish Board of Realtors. She will be responsible for operations of the association.

’ 9 8 | WENDY O’QUIN-PERRETTE of Bogalusa has been elected mayor of the City of Bogalusa. She previously served on the Bogalusa City School Board and for 12 years on the Bogalusa City Council and as the council president five times.

‘ 0 5 | BRAD TATE has joined the Lafayette-based CPA firm Prejean Romero McGee LLC as the firm’s tax manager. An attorney, he has experience in tax planning and compliance for individuals, companies, estates and trusts. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Young Lawers Division Council.

’ 1 1 | LISA MAHEU of Mandeville has written a new children’s book, Joel’s Chance, which she describes as “a faith-based story focused on God’s presence when he is needed most.” She is pursuing a degree in biblical studies at Grace College of Divinity. The book is published by WestBow Press.

‘ 1 2 | WILLIAM C. TAKEWELL of Hattiesburg, Miss., student activities manager at the University of Southern Mississippi, was named Outstanding New Professional for the Association of College Unions International Region III. He is the first Southern Mississippi representative to get the award. He recently earned his master’s degree in counseling and personnel services from USM this year.

’ 1 2 | TIFFANY MARY TODORA of Tickfaw is currently pursuing a juris doctorate degree from Mississippi College School of Law.

‘ 1 4 | VIRGINA M. STEVENSON of Springfield has joined the MetLife Premier Client Group of Louisiana as a financial services representative.


F acilitated by the Southeastern Louisiana University Foundation,

Southeastern’s Department of Teaching and Learning has received a $22,000 Entergy Charitable Foundation grant to help fund Project LION (“Learning in Our Neighborhood”), a community partnership with the Tangipahoa Parish School System and the City of Hammond.

“The initial after-school project was developed by the non-profit group Hammond Youth Education Alliance to provide affordable after-school academic and enrichment activities for middle school students within their neighborhoods,” said Gerlinde Beckers, assistant professor of Teaching and

Learning and the grant administrator. “The project also provides real-world experience for Southeastern teacher candidates in diverse settings, a crucial component in making the students ready for the classroom.”

Entergy and the Entergy Charitable Foundation have a long standing relationship with Southeastern.

“We’ve always valued Entergy’s support of Southeastern and their partnership in the various projects that address critical family and educational needs in our region,” said Wendy Lauderdale, Vice President for Advancement.

“PROJECT LION HAS A DIRECT IMPACT

ON CHILDREN AND PROVIDING THE

KIND OF HANDS-ON MENTORING

AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

IT PROVIDES WILL HAVE BOTH AN

IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM EFFECT

FOR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY,” said Entergy Northshore Customer Service representative, Eunice Harris.

Beckers added the cost of the after-school program is based on family income, and the fees per child range from $5 to $30 per week. The grant assistance will allow children unable to participate due to a lack of financial resources the opportunity to be a part of the program.

giving BACK

GIVINGBACK

SOUTHEASTERN RECEIVES

GRANT FROM ENTERGY FOR

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

F A L L 2 0 1 4 49

Project LION is neighborhood-based and is currently housed at Hammond Westside Montessori School and St. Paul Lutheran Missionary Church, centrally located sites in the city.

“The Tangipahoa Parish School System is excited about this partnership,” said Chief Academic Officer of the system Theresa Hamilton. “We see it as the beginning of a process of really uniting our community and strengthening the educational opportunities for students and families in Tangipahoa Parish.”

ACCORDING TO BECKERS, MOST

MIDDLE-SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS IN

THE PROJECT LION PROGRAM COME

FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH

LOW EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

LEVELS. School attendance rates fall dramatically in grades 6-8 and suspension rates increase during high school. Currently, 28 percent of Hammond’s high school students drop out before completion and, by age 25, 23.5 percent have not earned a high school diploma.

“Many students lack positive role models and have scarce opportunities. The most successful students are those whose after-school time is occupied with enrichment activities that reinforce and extend classroom learning,” Beckers said. “Children with unoccupied time are more at risk for engaging in unhealthy and/or delinquent behaviors, further widening what has been called the ‘Opportunity Gap.’”

Beckers added that in general, middle-class families are able to invest in

extracurricular opportunities or offer greater levels of support for their school-aged children. For families living in poverty, however, the cost of extracurricular activities is often prohibitive. As a result, children from these families tend to fall behind their middle-class counterparts, both academically and socially.

“Southeastern teacher candidates, certified Tangipahoa Parish classroom teachers, and community volunteers will be working with high-need, middle-school students within their neighborhoods,” she said. “Project LION aims to address the ‘opportunity gap’ by providing programming that focuses on school engagement, academic performance, and personal and social skills.”

While the primary focus is to benefit the students, Beckers said the teacher candidates also benefit from the field experience, making them real-world ready to address issues they will likely encounter as certified teachers.

Gerlinde Beckers, Education Assistant Professor at Southeastern; Eunice Harris, Northshore Representative with Entergy; Lynn Horgan, Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving, Southeastern

1925-2015 9 0 Y E A R S A N D S T I L L I M P A C T I N G L I V E S

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITYS P R I N G 2 0 1 5 M A G A Z I N E

SUCCESS: Southeastern was named to the President’s Honor Roll for Service for the fourth consecutive year for its community service efforts.

Office of Advancement, SLU 10293

Hammond, LA 70402

southeasternfoundation.org

Documents

Southeastern Louisiana University Magazine - Spring 2015